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The Future of the Right
The Next Right ^ | 5/30/08 | Jon Henke

Posted on 05/31/2008 3:59:55 AM PDT by Dawnsblood

It seems to me there are three main factions within the Republican Party, and while we can see strengths and weaknesses in each of them, the future of the Right is far from clear.

1: Progressive Republicans (aka: Teddy Roosevelt Republicans) - These are the Republicans who may be solid allies on many issues, but who also seem to want a Great Leader who can do Big Things. They are Crusader Conservatives - generally reliable on limited government, but willing to go off on Big Government crusades. Illustrative Quote: "The object of government is the welfare of the people," (Teddy Roosevelt)

2: Goldwater Republicans - These Republicans vote for limited government, individual liberty and strong defense; they may have various opinions on social issues, but they subsume those views to the goal at hand: limiting government Illustrative Quote: "I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom." (Goldwater)

3: Bush Republicans - these voters may or may not care about limited government, but they're willing to accept Big Government, so long as the government does socially conservative things. (See: Mike Huckabee, Christian Democracy) Illustrative Quote: "Prayers can help, and so can the government." - President Bush, February 6, 2008

Of those mentioned, many have fallen into a fourth camp - Status Quo Republicans. They are mostly focused on winning that next election and consolidating their own power.

So, where does the Right stand?

At this point, the Progressive Republicans are in the drivers seat - partly because John McCain (a Progressive Republican) has the Republican nomination, and partly because a charismatic figure with some Big Ideas beats factions with no attention-grabbing ideas. At this point, no other faction has the policy ideas and grassroots support to challenge for leadership. But that position can only be maintained by a charismatic leader for a short time. It is not sustainable, At some point, the other coalitions will see to fill the core policy vacuums McCain may leave open.

The Bush Republicans are doing badly right now - you've all seen the polling - but the social conservative/evangelical base is still strong (as evidenced by the out-of-nowhere Huckabee campaign) They're not gone yet, and they could make a quick comeback with a charismatic candidate. Like, you know, Mike Huckabee. If they do that, it will mark the GOP's turn towards the European Christian Democracy style of political parties.

Finally, there are the Goldwater Republicans. They have been relegated to lesser roles, or turned into Status Quo Republicans. While a few still make appropriate noises on the Hill, a lack of publicly appealing, political viable ideas for limiting government has rendered them mostly impotent. The Goldwater Republicans have the greatest opportunity, however, because it is they who will have the most compelling arguments against Democratic and/or McCain poliices, and it is they who will need to begin driving a narrative about the impact of Big Government poicy. If they do it well, they will have a chance to reassert the Goldwater brand. If they don't, they will probably become marginalized.

It's impossible to tell which of these factions will dominate. Your predictions are welcomed.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: factions; party

1 posted on 05/31/2008 3:59:55 AM PDT by Dawnsblood
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To: Dawnsblood

If the Democraps get a fillerbuster proof legislature combined with the Presidency for even 2 years, we’re totally screwed, period.


2 posted on 05/31/2008 4:31:45 AM PDT by Nonstatist
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To: Dawnsblood
I disagree with the definitions used in this article. How can Progressive Republicans be described as both reliable on limited government and willing to go off on big government crusades? Either they're one or the other, but not both. The truth is they aren't reliable on limited government.

The assertion that Bush Republicans accept big government as long as it does socially conservative things is totally incorrect. Bush signed onto No Child Left Behind, the prescription drug bill, and McCain-Feingold, none of which did socially conservative things. I suppose the argument here is the libertarian nonsense that allowing states and localities to regulate abortion or stop homosexuals from prancing around nude in public is “big government”, but the Founding Fathers would have disagreed.

As for Goldwater Republicans, they're just socially leftist Republicans who want a massively powered federal government to “protect” them from local socially conservative ordinances. In other words, they want unelected wolves in the henhouse to protect them from elected foxes. In fact, they go beyond that to supporting radically big government to promote certain social causes they've adopted, particularly on the subject of homosexuality. See the linked column below noting Goldwater's support for a federal law to prohibit “discrimination” against homosexuals:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/daily/may98/goldwater072894.htm

What we need is a true conservative. Someone favoring limited government, strong defense to protect our interests (not to bring “democracy” to the world), and who wants to preserve the traditions which made us great in the first place. This latter means family values, preferably at the local & state level, though in certain cases it may require a constitutional amendment when aggressive leftists are spreading a depravity from one state to another via the courts and subversion of the law (i.e., same-sex “marriage”).

James Madison knew that a corrupt people won't remain free. This is why the left has been so aggressive in changing our culture to one that is socially liberal. A place like San Francisco, which is socially liberal, will never be fiscally conservative or strong on national defense. In other words, it will never be free.

3 posted on 05/31/2008 4:32:47 AM PDT by puroresu (Enjoy ASIAN CINEMA? See my Freeper page for recommendations (updated!).)
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To: Dawnsblood
Socialism is becoming the only faction in the GOP and has been doing so incrementally for many years.
4 posted on 05/31/2008 4:54:54 AM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: Nonstatist

The first thing the Dims will do under President Barry is reintroduce the “Fairness Doctrine”...once Talk Radio has been shut down they’ll go after Fox News...

...Chavez did this...he’s their model...with no vocal opposition, and the MSM in their pocket let the socialism begin.


5 posted on 05/31/2008 5:14:45 AM PDT by kjo
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To: puroresu
The assertion that Bush Republicans accept big government as long as it does socially conservative things is totally incorrect

In addition to the examples you cite, Bush's aid to "faith-based" private-sector aid programs creates a deadly danger to the independence of churches and their programs. The foot is now in the door, and govt. regulations and controls will surely follow, including all the multiculturalism, affirmative action, pro-gay, anti-"hate speech rules already seen in other parts of society.

6 posted on 05/31/2008 5:21:43 AM PDT by hellbender
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To: Dawnsblood

I think there are two factions in the Republican Party:

1. True Conservatives (whose numbers are dwindling) and

2. “Democrat Light” Republicans (which is why #1 is dwindling as they grow disaffected and bail out).

I don’t know if the True Conservatives can ever regain control of the GOP as a force for good in this country. If not, we need to form a TC party so there is someplace for non-socialists to go.


7 posted on 05/31/2008 5:24:11 AM PDT by 43north (I did not leave the Republican Party; the Republican Party left me.)
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To: 43north

Don’t forget the fourth group...the “economic treason” Republicans. Those are the party members who are advocating a pathway to citizenship and social benefits for illegal aliens.


8 posted on 05/31/2008 5:49:50 AM PDT by RavenATB
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To: Dawnsblood
According to these definitions, I suppose I am a "Goldwater Republican" who has fallen into the "Status Quo Republican" "camp" inasmuch as I consider any and all of these Republican factions to be infinitely preferable to the Democrat Party and the survival of our beloved nation dependant upon defeating the Democrats.

According to this definition, I am definitely not a "Bush Republican".

I will make one prediction: If a Democrat is elected President, a Democrat majority elected to the House of Representatives, and a filibuster-proof Democrat majority elected to the U.S.Senate, the United States will be so devastated that she will never fully recover.

9 posted on 05/31/2008 6:11:10 AM PDT by Savage Beast ("History is not just cruel. It is witty." ~Charles Krauthammer)
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To: Dawnsblood
There is no longer a right wing in the United States..
If there was... I'd join it..

They must've died off..

10 posted on 05/31/2008 6:37:14 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: Dawnsblood

IMHO, unless several other things happen, limited government will never be seen again. These would be a repeal of the 17th ammnendment...restoring the Senate to the States

http://www.articlev.com/repeal_the_17th_amendment.htm

the second is to expand the size of the House of Representatives...

http://www.democracyjournal.org/article.php?ID=6587

Currently in DC..look what happened to Tom Delay.....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1802383/posts

Washington is so jammed with parasites looking for a teat...that ANY organized opposition-IOW any Conservatives-will be run out of town . Period. This, folks, is a far BIGGER problem than just one with the Republican leadership.

Pay attention the the Farm Bill that just passed. Its not the average American Joe that is demanding handouts that’s driving the bus here.

It’s any large organization that has the cash to buy a few K St. lobbyists to twist congress’ arm. The boys on Capitol Hill that are unresponsive to said arm twisting...well these organizations can afford to make sure they’re replaced in the next election cycle-and in fact, with what the new boys will send them legislatively will far more than make up for the cost of replacing a recalcitrant congresscritter. We American’s have a far bigger problem on our hands here than any of us could possibly imagine in our worst nightmare.


11 posted on 05/31/2008 7:08:07 AM PDT by mo
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To: Dawnsblood

I am one of those “Constitutionalists.”
I do not believe in Nation Building Wars.

I am not an isolationist neither am I an interventionist in foriegn affairs.

I believe the Federal governments powers are few and well defined by the U.S. Constitution and nothing in those documents allow for a Patriot Act...or the Clean Air Act or any such laws as those. I do not believe in preemptive wars based on U.N. Resolutions nor do I believe that the Just War theory emcompasses such a policy whether or not it is practiced by a Clinton or a Bush.

I wish to abolish the I.R.S. and nearly every other alphabet agency in the Fed. I believe in “The land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. Not in the land of “everything changed after 911” and the Home of “pee our pants in fear at the mere mention of terrorism” that this country has become.

I believe the Church builds the moral foundation of a country not the Federal Courts. Bush was right about abortion...it will not end until peoples hearts have been changed. Failure of our Church’s to instill a collective morality on the people in no way justifies the governments efforts to do so instead. There should be a law forbidding the FEDERAL Courts from having any say in such matters...One such law was written but found no support within the GOP.

I believe a politician should obey his oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. I believe that if the Federal Court rules that gun ownership is not an individual right that 30 million gun owners should martch on Washington D.C....armed.

These are only a few of the conservative principals that I believe in that have been abandoned by both political parties...

It was much to my dismay that I found that a Party that I thought held dear these same principals as I do actually do not, and in point of fact...believe me and those who believe as I do to be KOOKS.


12 posted on 05/31/2008 7:41:11 AM PDT by KDD (Bob Barr for President.)
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To: KDD
"I believe that if the Federal Court rules that gun ownership is not an individual right that 30 million gun owners should martch on Washington D.C....armed."

If it didn't happen in '34, '68, '86, '89 or '94 it won't ever happen. The vast majority of gun owners are Sheeple and don't know dick about guns or gun laws. You wouldn't believe the amount of people in my gunshop who point to an AR or AK and say "You can't own those machine guns!".

13 posted on 05/31/2008 8:16:16 AM PDT by Trinity5 (www.StubbyGear.Com - Funny Name, Serious Gear!)
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To: Dawnsblood

That’s a very limited scope. I know that there are a few small l libertarians, a few South Park Republicans (Where the future of the party is) and there are a few Pink Elephants (Republicans that are against drug prohibition).


14 posted on 05/31/2008 8:36:37 AM PDT by TypeZoNegative (I'm An American Engaged To Another American, we're not a mixed couple.)
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